Touchscreen display with concurrent touch and display operations

ABSTRACT

A touchscreen display includes one or more display drivers coupled to an active matrix display and one or more touch controllers coupled to one or more touch sensor conductors. The one or more display drivers are coupled to the active matrix display via active matrix conductive components. When enabled, the one or more display drivers is configured to transmit a first signal to the active matrix display in accordance with display operation. A touch sensor conductor includes one or more segments of the active matrix conductive components. When enabled, a touch controller of the one or more touch controllers is configured to transmit a second signal via the touch sensor conductor in accordance with touchscreen operation that is performed concurrently with the display operation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to35 U. S.C. § 120 as a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No.16/131,634, entitled “TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY WITH CONCURRENT TOUCH ANDDISPLAY OPERATIONS,” filed Sep. 14, 2018, pending, which claims prioritypursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/559,282, entitled “CONCURRENT TOUCH AND DISPLAY OPERATIONS,” filed09-15-2017, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility PatentApplication for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to touchscreens and displays and moreparticularly to touchscreen displays that operate both touch and displayoperations concurrently and/or simultaneously.

Description of Related Art

Touch controller functionality has been integrated into a flat paneldisplays (aka In-Cell or On-Cell) in order to minimize the number oflayers, assembly steps, and cost typically required to add externaltouch functionality to a flat panel display. This combination of touchand display functions within the flat panel display itself generallyreuses at least some of the conductive pathways of the display toprovide touch sensor functionality.

For typical in-cell configurations, the two different functions, namely,display control and touch sensing, co-exist by alternating display andtouch controller operations. The prior art switches between operationsof the touch controller and the display. For example, the display driveroperations are paused for a short period of time so that the touchoperations can be conducted. Among other reasons and because of variousdeficiencies of the prior art, this is performed because the signalsgenerated by respective display control and touch sensing operationsinterfere with the normal operations of each other. For example, the‘noise’ from the display operations generally overwhelms the signalprocessing capabilities of traditional touch controllers. Conversely,signals from the touch controller transmitted during normal LCDcontroller operations would alter the visible output of the LCD display.Therefore, in order to provide both capabilities integrated into adisplay, prior art devices allow only one of the respective displaycontrol and touch sensing operations to operate at a time. Therecontinues to remain significant room for improvement in the art oftouchscreens and displays.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 illustrates various contemporary liquid crystal display (LCD)display architectures;

FIG. 2 illustrates an active matrix display in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an active matrix display showing the trace resistanceand parasitic capacitance from the overlapping of the row and columnconductors, but no circuitry that normally exists within each pixel orsub-pixel;

FIG. 4A illustrates the locations for integration of a concurrent touchfunction within an active matrix display in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4B illustrates a representative set of alternative single layertouch sensor architectures that can also be used with variousembodiments;

FIG. 5A illustrates a concurrent touchscreen display device directlycoupled to an active matrix in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5B illustrates a concurrent touchscreen display device capacitivelycoupled to an active matrix in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6A illustrates physical layout of the first row and columnintersection of active matrix conductors within an active matrixdisplay, highlighting the resistance and parasitic capacitance inherentin the exemplary structure;

FIG. 6B illustrates the components of FIG. 6A in a logical layout inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6C illustrates the components of FIG. 6A in a logical layout withcapacitively coupled touch controllers in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 7A illustrates the standard definition of a high pass filter;

FIG. 7B illustrates a high pass filter formed by a capacitively coupledtouch controller and the components of an active matrix display;

FIG. 7C illustrates a high pass filter can be created at each locationthe touch controller is capacitively coupled to the rows or columns ofan active matrix display in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8A illustrates a transmission path of a transmit signal generatedby the touch controller that is capacitively coupled to a single row orcolumn within the active matrix display in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 8B illustrates a transmission path of a transmit signal generatedby a touch controller that is capacitively coupled to a group ofconductors (rows or columns) within an active matrix display inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9A illustrates a path of a transmit signal received from aconductor (row or column) of the active matrix display into a touchcontroller through a capacitively coupled connection in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 9B illustrates a path of multiple transmit signals received from agroup of conductors (rows or columns) of the active matrix display intoa touch controller through multiple capacitively coupled connections inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates separate touch controllers managing a group of rowsand a group of columns in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a single touch controller managing multiple groupsof rows and columns in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts of mutual capacitance or self capacitancemethods of concurrent touch and display operations in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 14A illustrates the standard definition of a band pass filter;

FIG. 14B illustrates band pass filter formed by a capacitively coupledtouch controller with an additional resistor and capacitor and thecomponents of an active matrix display;

FIG. 14C illustrates a band pass filter can be created at each locationthe touch controller is capacitively coupled to the rows or columns ofan active matrix display in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a 3D layout ofa concurrent touchscreen display device with capacitively coupledconnections to an active matrix in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIGS. 16A-16B are schematic block diagrams of various embodiments ofvarious stack configurations for coupling the touch controller to theactive matrix conductors using existing metal layers in accordance withthe present invention;

FIGS. 16C-16D are schematic block diagrams of various embodiments ofvarious stack configurations for coupling the touch controller to theactive matrix conductors using additional metal layers in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 17 a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a 3D layout of aconcurrent touchscreen display device with both capacitive coupling anddirect connections in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a liquidcrystal display (LCD) pixel layout in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of multiple LCDpixels with in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of LCD pixels witha segmented ground plane in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of segmentation ofa common ground plane within an active matrix in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of segmentation ofa common ground plane in which the segments are connected to metal linesusing vias to form a touch sensor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a 3D layout ofa concurrent touchscreen display device with touch controllers directlyconnected to segmented plane segments using metal lines and vias inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of segmentation ofa common ground plane within an active matrix in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 25 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an in-cellcheckerboard sensor layout in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an in-cellcheckerboard sensor layout in which metal lines use vias to connect tothe ground plane segments and form a touch sensor in accordance with thepresent invention; and

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an in-celldiamond sensor layout in which metal lines use vias to connect to theground plane segments and form a touch sensor in accordance with thepresent invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It should be understood at the outset that, although illustrativeimplementations of one or more embodiments are provided below, thedisclosed systems and/or methods may be implemented using any number oftechniques, whether currently known or in existence. The disclosureshould in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations,drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplarydesigns and implementations illustrated and described herein, but may bemodified within the scope of the appended claims along with their fullscope of equivalents.

The present disclosure is directed to a device and method for providingconcurrent touch and display operations using the conductive circuitryoriginally designed for a flat panel display. The control circuits forthe flat panel display are configured such that both display operationsand touch sensing operations are performed concurrently. The selectedconductive pathways within the active flat panel display communicatesignals for the display operations and detect user interaction (e.g.,perform touch detection operations, stylus and/or pen detection, etc.)on the display. The touch controller functionality implemented toperform concurrent operations with a flat panel display using theexisting flat panel display circuitry layers possesses certainattributes. For example, the touch controller functionality operateswith very high sensitivity and use waveforms, voltages and frequenciesthat propagate through the set of conductors and do not materially alterthe contents of the display.

In order to implement the various concurrent touchscreen display deviceembodiments described herein, the selected conductors within the flatpanel display do not have any ground plane or other conductive layerthat would electrically shield the selected conductive pathways frombeing affected by user interaction (e.g., sufficiently close proximityof a human touch, stylus, and/or conductive pen) with the surface of thedisplay. In some LCD display types, this is inherent in the design.Others may operate by inverting the usual layer stack order to exposethe selected conductive elements so that they can be influenced by thepresence of an external conductor (e.g., finger, pen, stylus, etc.).

FIG. 1 shows a comparison of layers comprising 3 types of LCD displays.Of particular note is the layer stack of in-plane-switching (IPS) typeLCD which possesses an architecture suitable for concurrent touch anddisplay operations because it does not require an indium tin oxide (ITO)ground plane layer on the underside of the top glass that is required inthe twisted nematic (TN) and vertical alignment (VA) mode architectures.Various displays, including Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED), couldalready possess a suitable architecture or could be modified to exposeor pattern a desired set of conductors. For example, in a VA type LCDdisplay, the active matrix thin-film transistor (TFT) layer could beplaced on the surface of the display closest to the viewer and theground plane could be on the side of the display closest to thebacklight.

With respect to the TN mode and the VA mode, note that there areconductive ground plane layers (e.g., ITO) above and below therespective liquid crystal portions of the stack up. For example, thereis a respective conductive ground plane layer of the top of the bottomglass and on the bottom of the top glass within the stack up.

With respect to the IPS mode, shown on the left-hand side of the figure,there is in-plane switching, and as such, there is no conductive groundplane layer on the top glass. Also, with respect to the IPS mode, thereare conductors on the top of the bottom glass layer. However, note thatthe conductive ground plane layer is patterned differently than withrespect to the TN mode and the VA mode given that the operation thereinis based on the in-plane switching.

FIG. 2 illustrates an active matrix display 200 in accordance withvarious embodiments. The active matrix display 200 comprises an activematrix display area 210 having a grid of multiple conductive pathways222, 232 (e.g., multiple rows and multiple columns), a first activematrix driver 220 coupled to a first set of multiple conductive pathways222 (generically referred to as a row or column), and a second activematrix driver 230 coupled to a second set of multiple conductivepathways 232 (generically referred to as a row or column). Note thatwhile the conductors described herein may be referenced as row or columnconductors, it is not necessary that they be physically arranged asorthogonal sets of parallel conductor pathways. Note that numerousconfigurations of capacitive touch sensor architectures that can also beused, either single or multi-layer. This disclosure can take advantageof any set of conductors that has sufficient resolution and capacitancebetween features to detect the presence of external conductor (e.g.,finger, pen, stylus, etc.) related activities on or near the surface ofthe display.

Also, there are many references to active matrix display in thisdisclosure, which is a type of addressing scheme used in flat paneldisplays. Note that there are many variations of flat panel displayarchitectures. This disclosure is not limited to any particular displaytype or particular arrangement of conductors. Various aspects,embodiments, and/or examples of the invention (and/or their equivalents)may be implemented in accordance utilizes any arrangement of conductorsthat can be used for capacitive touch detection and any displaytechnology or architecture that can support such. For example, FIG. 4Billustrates various examples of prior art from certain patentapplications that show single layer touch sensors that could be utilizedwith this present disclosure if the conductive pathways in the displaywere arranged in such a fashion.

FIG. 3 illustrates an active matrix display 200 in accordance withvarious embodiments. The active matrix display 200 comprises an activematrix display area 210 having a grid of multiple conductive pathways222, 232 (e.g., multiple rows and multiple columns), a first activematrix driver 220 coupled to a first set of multiple conductive pathways222 (generically referred to as a row or column), and a second activematrix driver 230 coupled to a second set of multiple conductivepathways 232 (generically referred to as a row or column). A firstconductor intersection 300 is highlighted. No pixel or sub-pixelcircuitry is included in the illustration, while it may affect theperformance of the touch function and may differ greatly between thevarious display technologies, the effect is common to all conductivepathways within a single display and therefore can be managed bybaselining the characteristics of each individual display. Any variationof capacitance detectable on the active matrix conductors due to changesamongst the various states of the pixel or sub-pixel circuitry, oncecharacterized, can be managed by software/firmware within the touchcontroller function. This diagram illustrates that each conductivepathway 310, 320 in the matrix has inherent pathway resistance 312, 322and that wherever the row and column conductors cross (when separated bya dielectric layer), an intersection capacitor 313 is created. Inmulti-layer touch sensors, the row to column capacitance is createdwhere the conductors cross over each other (separated by a dielectric).In single layer capacitive touch panels, intersection capacitance iscreated in-plane at the boundaries between the various conductive areas,and in some architectures, there is a small crossover as well (e.g., inaccordance with a ‘diamond’ pattern with bridges). Also shown is theconductive pathway ground 311, 321 is contained within the active matrixdrivers 220, 230. Generally, there is a resistance to ground 311, 321within these drivers. This resistance to ground 311, 321 may or may notbe switched from a high resistance state to a low resistance state bythe active matrix driver 220, 230 depending on the operation beingperformed by the active matrix driver 220, 230.

In addition, note that the one or more signals provided from any touchcontroller as described herein may be of any, one or more, and/or anycombination of a variety of types. For example, such a signal may bebased on encoding of one or more bits to generate one or more coded bitsused to generate modulation data (or generally, data). For example, adevice is configured to perform forward error correction (FEC) and/orerror checking and correction (ECC) code of one or more bits to generateone or more coded bits. Examples of FEC and/or ECC may include turbocode, convolutional code, turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM), lowdensity parity check (LDPC) code, Reed-Solomon (RS) code, BCH (Bose andRay-Chaudhuri, and Hocquenghem) code, binary convolutional code (BCC),Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), and/or any other type of ECC and/or FECcode and/or combination thereof, etc. Note that more than one type ofECC and/or FEC code may be used in any of various implementationsincluding concatenation (e.g., first ECC and/or FEC code followed bysecond ECC and/or FEC code, etc. such as based on an inner code/outercode architecture, etc.), parallel architecture (e.g., such that firstECC and/or FEC code operates on first bits while second ECC and/or FECcode operates on second bits, etc.), and/or any combination thereof.

Also, the one or more coded bits may then undergo modulation or symbolmapping to generate modulation symbols (e.g., the modulation symbols mayinclude data intended for one or more recipient devices, components,elements, etc.). Note that such modulation symbols may be generatedusing any of various types of modulation coding techniques. Examples ofsuch modulation coding techniques may include binary phase shift keying(BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), 8-phase shift keying(PSK), 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), 32 amplitude and phaseshift keying (APSK), etc., uncoded modulation, and/or any other desiredtypes of modulation including higher ordered modulations that mayinclude even greater number of constellation points (e.g., 1024 QAM,etc.).

In addition, note that a signal provided from a touch controller may beof a unique frequency being different from signals provided from thatsame touch controller and/or other touch controllers. Also, a signalprovided from a touch controller may include multiple frequenciesindependently or simultaneously. The frequency of the signal can behopped on a pre-arranged pattern. In some examples, a handshake isestablished between one or more touch controllers and one or moreprocessing modules (e.g., one or more drivers, controllers, etc.) suchthat the one or more touch controller is/are directed by the one or moreprocessing modules regarding which frequency or frequencies and/or whichother one or more characteristics of the one or more signals to use atone or more respective times and/or in one or more particularsituations.

FIG. 4A illustrates a touchscreen display device with a concurrentactive matrix display 400 in accordance with various embodiments. Theactive matrix display 400 comprises an active matrix display area 210having a grid of multiple conductive pathways 222, 232 (e.g., multiplerows and multiple columns), a first active matrix driver 220 coupled toa first set of multiple conductive pathways 222 (generically referred toas a row or column), and a second active matrix driver 230 coupled to asecond set of multiple conductive pathways 232 (generically referred toas a row or column). The first touch controller 421 is coupled to one ormore of the first set of multiple conductive pathways 222 within theactive matrix display 210. Similarly, the second touch controller 431 isconnected to one or more of the second set of multiple conductivepathways 232 within the active matrix display 210. The manner andlocation of connection of the touch controllers 421, 431 to the activematrix display 210 can be established with various architectures, aswill be described in later embodiments. For example, alternate locationsof touch controller 422, 432 illustrate their location at the oppositeend of the active matrix conductors 222, 232. Further, a touchcontroller (e.g., first touch controller 421, second touch controller431) can be integrated into an active matrix driver 220, 230,respectively, other components within a host device, or contained withindedicated and discrete circuitry. In various embodiments, the activematrix drivers 220, 230 can be integrated into a single circuit or inseparate circuits in one or more packages. In various embodiments, thetouch controllers 421, 431, 422, 432 while logically separate, but mayor may not be physically separate and can be integrated into a singlecircuit in one package or in separate circuits in one or more packages.

In accordance with various embodiments, each touch controller channelcan be connected to a conductive pathway within or on the active matrixdisplay. The conductive pathways can be rows (or gate lines), columns(or data lines), other channelized conductive layers (e.g., segmentedV_(COM)), and/or combinations of other conductive zones grouped (eitheron screen or off screen) into logical conductive pathways. In someexamples, with respect to the display operation, the a number ofthin-film transistors (TFTs) are implemented that facilitate operationof the respective pixels and/or sub-pixels of the display (e.g.,implemented in an RGB, red green blue, implementation). Data lines arecoupled or connected to the source side of the TFTs, gate lines arecoupled or connected to the gate of the TFTs, and the transparentconductive material (e.g., ITO) of the respective pixel and/or sub-pixelis coupled or connected to the drain side of the TFTs. There is anadditional conductive layer (sometimes referred to as a ‘common groundplane’) in all active matrix displays that is generally common to allpixels or sub-pixels. Note that such coupling or connectivity describedherein is based on the display architecture itself and not with respectto the architecture or operation of the touchscreen display.

Moreover, note that while certain of the different respectiveembodiments, examples, etc. described herein are described withreference to displays that operate based on liquid crystal display (LCD)related technology and the associated active-matrix display thereof,note that various aspects, embodiments, and/or examples of the invention(and/or their equivalents) may alternatively be applied to touchscreendisplays operating using any desired alternative technology (e.g., LCD,organic light emitting diode (OLED), Electroluminescent Display (ELD),Plasma, Quantum Dot, etc.).

In some examples, a selection can be made of any two sets of theseconductive pathways in the locations(s) desired to detect touch and penoperations that are arranged in such a fashion to exhibit sufficientcapacitance as part of a logical intersection such that the change incapacitance from the presence of an external conductor material (e.g.,finger, pen, etc.) on the outer or front surface of the display can beused to determine touch or pen locations. Consequently, in variousembodiments, a suitable set of conductive pathways has no ground planeor other conductive layer that would electrically shield the selectedconductive pathways from being affected by a touch or pen on the surfaceof the display.

The various methods for connecting the touch controller circuitry toconductive pathways in an active matrix display stack allow for thetransmission and reception of touch operation signaling on top of thesignaling (e.g., voltages) placed on the active matrix conductorchannels. In some examples, the signals used by the touch functions areof such waveform, frequency or voltage as not to interfere with thenormal active matrix display operations and therefore have little to noeffect on the display operations.

As referenced above, the manner of connection of the touch controllers421, 431 to the active matrix display 210 can be established withvarious architectures. Three methods for electrically connecting thetouch controller channels to the active matrix circuits include: directconnections, capacitive coupling and a hybrid of the two. Directconnections employ a touch controller channel directly connected to eachrow or column conductor (or fewer than all, such as a subset of the rowor column conductor(s)) utilized.

FIG. 5A illustrates a concurrent touchscreen display device 500 usingdirect connections. The touchscreen display device 500 comprises theactive matrix display 210, the first active matrix driver 220 coupled tothe multiple columns, and the second active matrix driver 230 coupled tothe multiple rows. The first touch controller 421 implements one or moredirect connections 520 to conductors of the first set of multipleconductive pathways 222, with three direct connections shown in FIG. 5A.Similarly, the second touch controller 431 implements one or more directconnections 530 to conductors of the second set of multiple conductivepathways 232, with two direct connections shown in FIG. 5A. In someexamples, direct connections of this type are electrically isolated fromeach other either at some point along the signal trace or within a touchcontroller circuit itself in such a fashion that these additionalconnections do not in some way alter the proper operation of the activematrix display. Note that there are a number of options to provide thiselectrical isolation. In this example, note that the touch controller isphysically connected to certain rows and/or columns.

A touch controller channel can have multiple direct connections toconductors, where the multiple direction connections are electricallyisolated from each other. Although it is possible to connect a touchcontroller channel to each and every row and column in the display, itmay not be desired due to certain considerations such as the cost of somany connections, trace routings, and an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC) size required to accomplish this. In various embodiments,a direct connection method is implemented where the direct connectionsare made to a subset of the total number of rows and columns rather thanto all of them. For example, a direct connection can be made to one ofevery N conductors, where N is an integer value greater than 1. Thepercentage of rows and columns directly connected can be designed basedon a performance vs. cost tradeoff decision. Given that the conductivepathways (i.e. row and column conductors) are usually smaller than thetraditional touch sensor channel width (e.g., 5 mm or within the rangeof 3-10 mm), the number of row or column conductors utilized in a touchcontroller channel can vary, depending on design. To create channelizeddata (similar to that in existing touch sensors that employ the typical5 mm wide conductive channels), data from multiple adjacent touchcontroller channels can be combined mathematically into a virtualchannel in order to minimize the backend data processing requirements.In order to improve location accuracy, the groupings, or virtualchannels, could be accomplished by using data from bordering touchcontroller channels in both adjacent groups (or virtual channels).

A capacitive coupling connection to a touch controller channel can bedone to one or more rows (or columns) without causing any significantdisruption to their designated functions.

FIG. 5B illustrates a concurrent touchscreen display device 550 usingcapacitive coupling connections. Similar to touchscreen display devices400, 500, the touchscreen display device 550 comprises the active matrixdisplay 210, the first active matrix driver 220 coupled to the multiplecolumns, and the second active matrix driver 230 coupled to the multiplerows. The first touch controller 421 implements one or more capacitivecoupling connections 521 to multiple column conductors, with threecapacitive coupling connections shown in FIG. 5B. Similarly, the secondtouch controller 431 implements one or more capacitive couplingconnections 531 to multiple row conductor, with two capacitive couplingconnections shown in FIG. 5B. The capacitive coupling connections 521,531 each comprise multiple adjacent conductors 222, 232, respectively.The increase in capacitor area of the aggregated rows (or columns)improves the sensitivity of the touch function by monitoring severalconductors at a time for a touch operation, rather than individualconductors via a direct connection method. If the metal conductors ofthe active matrix gate and data lines are used, the matrix becomes, ineffect, a metal mesh touch sensor. In this example, note that the touchcontroller is coupled via capacitively coupling (CC) to certain rowsand/or columns. With respect to the implementations within FIG. 5A andFIG. 5B, note that the touchscreen operation of the touchscreen displayis implemented using the actual elements and components (e.g., lines)that are implemented within the device for display operations. Thoseelements and components associated with the display operation of thetouchscreen display are used in a new way. Different and additionalsignals are provided concurrently (e.g., at the same time,simultaneously, etc.) with the signals that are provided to facilitatedisplay operation of the touchscreen display on the same respectivelines, conductors, elements, etc.

In order to process touch operations caused by a touch or pen on thesurface of the display, the touch controller monitors the change incapacitance occurring on the monitored conductive pathways. In someexamples, note that the common ground plane conductive material isimplemented on the opposite side of a dialectic material (e.g., glass)that is associated with the conductors where a finger touches. Forexample, considering the example illustrated on the left-hand side ofFIG. 1, the IPS mode, there would be a TFT layer on the top (or abovethe ground plane layer) and not on the bottom in certain instances.

An active matrix driver transmits drive signals (typically a pulsed orswitched direct current (DC) signal) for the display operations thoughthe active matrix with the appropriate voltage level for the desiredoperation. Independently, a touch controller 421, 431 generates atransmit signal propagated through the capacitive coupling connections521, 531. The touch controller's 421, 431 transmit signal is a uniquesignal, separate from and in addition to, the display drive signal. Thetransmit signal can be provided by a touch controller 421 and monitoredby either touch controller 421 or touch controller 431. Alternatively,the transmit signal can be provided by a touch controller 431 andmonitored by either touch controller 421 or touch controller 431.

FIG. 6A shows a first conductor intersection 300 (originally shown inFIG. 3) illustrating resistance and capacitance of the rows and columns,including the path to ground for the circuit. FIG. 6B redraws the samecomponents from FIG. 6A into an electrically equivalent linear schematiclayout. Active matrix drivers 230, 220 control the display signalingthat is placed onto the row conductor 310 and the column conductor 320.The row conductor 310 has a row resistance 312 and column conductor 320has column resistance 322. The intersection of the row conductor 310 andcolumn conductor 320 creates an intersection capacitor 313. Thisintersection capacitor 313 is in the display area 210 and is affected bythe presence of an external conductive material (e.g., finger, pen) onor near the surface of the display. FIG. 6C shows the representativelocation where the touch controllers 421, 431 capacitively couple 321,331 to the active matrix conductive pathways.

FIG. 7A illustrates a high pass filter 700, comprising an input waveform710 having a frequency of ‘f’. This waveform passes through capacitor720 and is attenuated by resistor 730. The high pass filter 700 has adefined as cutoff frequency f=1/(2πRC). A cutoff frequency is a boundaryin a filter's frequency response at which energy flowing through thefilter begins to be reduced (attenuated or reflected) rather thanpassing through. When the combination of transmission frequency,capacitor 720 and resistor 730 meet appropriate system designrequirements, an output waveform 740 passes through the high pass filter700. FIG. 7B illustrates the components in the active matrix, with thetouch controllers added, which comprise a high pass filter. The inputwaveform 710 (transmit signal) can be generated by the touchcontrollers. The waveform (transmit signal) is coupled through capacitor720 onto the conductive pathways which are driven by active matrixdrivers. The resistor 730 to ground is located within the active matrixdriver. FIG. 7C illustrates a first touch controller capacitivelycoupled to a row and a second touch controller coupled to a column, eachof which creates a high pass filter.

FIG. 8A illustrates the path the transmit signal follows once it leavesa touch controller, such as touch controllers 421, 431. FIG. 8Billustrates how a transmit signal can be coupled to multiple conductorpathways, such as multiple conductive pathways 222, 232.

FIG. 9A illustrates the path the transmit signal follows to get to thereceiving touch controller. This transmit signal may be significantlyattenuated, even to the point it is no longer detectable, if theresistance to ground, for this conductor, in the active matrix driver istoo low. FIG. 9B illustrates the receive path when multiple activematrix conductors are capacitively grouped together into a virtual touchcontroller channel. The transmit signal will be coupled to the touchcontroller from all of the conductors in the group which do not have alow resistance to ground.

FIG. 10 illustrates the layout of individual touch controllers, such astouch controllers 421, 431, that transmit and receive while capacitivelycoupled to multiple active matrix conductors, such as multipleconductive pathways 222, 232. This diagram shows different touchcontrollers 421 and 431 implemented on row and column operations,respectively. For example, touch controller 421 is implemented for rowoperation, and touch controller 431 is implemented for column operation.

FIG. 11 illustrates the layout of a single touch controller 1101capacitively coupled to multiple conductor groups, such as multipleconductive pathways 222, 232, on both the row and column conductors.This diagram shows a single touch controller 1101 that is implementedfor both row and column operation.

Various examples of touchscreen displays are presented herein. In someexamples, a touchscreen display includes one or more display driverscoupled to an active matrix display via a plurality of active matrixconductive components. When enabled, the one or more display drivers isconfigured to transmit a first signal to the active matrix display inaccordance with display operation. In addition, the touchscreen displayincludes one or more touch controllers coupled to one or more touchsensor conductors. Note that a touch sensor conductor includes one ormore segments of the plurality of active matrix conductive components.When enabled, a touch controller of the one or more touch controllers isconfigured to transmit a second signal via the touch sensor conductor inaccordance with touchscreen operation that is performed concurrentlywith the display operation.

The touchscreen operation and the display operation are performedconcurrently within the touchscreen display. From certain perspectives,the touchscreen operation and the display operation may be viewed asbeing performed simultaneously within the touchscreen display such thatboth touchscreen operation and the display operation operate using manycommon elements of the touchscreen display (e.g., segmented portions ofone or more ground plane conductors).

In some examples, the plurality of active matrix conductive componentsincludes a common ground plane that is segmented into a plurality ofsegments including the one or more segments. A first touch sensorconductor includes a first subset of the plurality of segments and isaligned in a first direction (e.g., a row touch sensor conductor in arow direction), and a second touch sensor conductor includes a secondsubset of the plurality of segments that is different than the firstsubset of the plurality of segments and is aligned in a second directionthat is different than the first direction (e.g., a column touch sensorconductor in a column direction). Note that a touch sensor conductor mayalternatively be referred to as a touch sensor electrode. In general, aconductor may alternatively be referred to as an electrode or a metalline. In some examples, a common ground plane conductor is segmentedinto segments, and certain of those segments are appropriately connectedtogether thereby forming different respective touch sensor conductors(e.g., a row touch sensor conductor formed using appropriately connectedsegments of a first set of segments of the segmented common ground planeconductor, and a column touch sensor conductor formed usingappropriately connected segments of a second set of segments of thesegmented common ground plane conductor).

When enabled, the one or more touch controllers is further configured totransmit a first touch sensor signal via the first touch sensorconductor and to transmit a second touch sensor signal via the secondtouch sensor conductor. In addition, when enabled, the one or more touchcontrollers is further configured to process the first touch sensorsignal and/or the second touch sensor signal to detect interaction of anexternal conductor with the touchscreen display. Note that a change ofcapacitance of the first touch sensor conductor and/or the second touchsensor conductor is based on the external conductor.

In addition, in some examples, the touchscreen display includes a firstplurality of touch sensor conductors including the first touch sensorconductor aligned in the first direction and a second plurality of touchsensor conductors including the second touch sensor conductor aligned inthe second direction. For example, a first row touch sensor conductor isformed using appropriately connected segments of a first set of segmentsof the segmented common ground plane conductor, a second row touchsensor conductor is formed using appropriately connected segments of asecond set of segments of the segmented common ground plane conductor, athird row touch sensor conductor is formed using appropriately connectedsegments of a third set of segments of the segmented common ground planeconductor, and so on.

Similarly, a first column touch sensor conductor is formed usingappropriately connected segments of a fourth set of segments of thesegmented common ground plane conductor, a second column touch sensorconductor is formed using appropriately connected segments of a fifthset of segments of the segmented common ground plane conductor, a thirdcolumn touch sensor conductor is formed using appropriately connectedsegments of a sixth set of segments of the segmented common ground planeconductor, and so on.

In some examples, when enabled, the one or more touch controllers isconfigured to identify a location of the interaction of the externalconductor with the touchscreen display based on an intersection of thefirst touch sensor conductor and the second touch sensor conductorwithin the touchscreen display.

In some examples, note that the first touch sensor conductor and/or thesecond touch sensor conductor includes a channel width in a range of3-10 millimeters. Also, in some examples, note that the second signalincludes a sine wave signal, a compound sine wave signal, an alternatingcurrent (AC) signal, and/or a pulsed square wave signal.

In some examples, the touch controller of the one or more touchcontrollers is capacitively coupled to the touch sensor conductor via atouch controller line. In other examples, the touch controller of theone or more touch controllers is directed connected to the touch sensorconductor.

Also, in some examples, the one or more display drivers and/or the oneor more touch controllers of the touchscreen display are implementedwithin one or more integrated circuits.

Also, in certain examples, when enabled, the one or more touchcontrollers is further configured to transmit the second signal via thetouch sensor conductor and also detect change of the second signal viathe touch sensor conductor in accordance with a self-capacitive mode.Also, when enabled, the one or more touch controllers is furtherconfigured to detect a third signal via the touch sensor conductor inaccordance with a mutual-capacitive mode, wherein the third signal iscoupled to the touch sensor conductor from another touch sensorconductor.

Also, in some examples, a method for execution within a touchscreendisplay includes operating one or more display drivers that is coupledto an active matrix display via a plurality of active matrix conductivecomponents to transmit a first signal to the active matrix display inaccordance with display operation. Such a method also includes operatingone or more touch controllers that is coupled to one or more touchsensor conductors including operating a touch controller of the one ormore touch controllers to transmit a second signal via a touch sensorconductor that includes one or more segments of the plurality of activematrix conductive components in accordance with touchscreen operationthat is performed concurrently with the display operation.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart for a concurrent touchscreen displaydevice performing touch operation processing using a mutual-capacitivemode in accordance with various embodiments. In a mutual-capacitivemode, a first touch controller transmits the transmit signal and asecond touch controller receives and monitors the transmit signal. Anexemplary method 1200 includes the following steps. First step 1201comprises generating a transmit signal for transmission to the activematrix conductive pathways 222, 232. The transmit signal is continuouslygenerated in step 1202. The capacitance coupling combined with theresistance to ground in the active matrix driver creates a high passfilter. If the transmit signal is DC, it will not be coupled onto theactive matrix conductors, such as the first set of multiple conductivepathways 222 and the second set of multiple conductive pathways 232. Instep 1203, the transmit signal is coupled onto the matrix conductorgroup, however it may be severely attenuated by the high pass filter ifthe resistance to ground is too low. Once the transmit signal is coupledto the matrix conductor, as shown in step 1204, it propagates throughthe first matrix conductor group 331. The transmit signal capacitivelycouples from the first matrix conductor group to the second matrixconductor group 1205. If the normal capacitance of between the twoconductor groups is altered by the presence of an external conductivematerial (e.g., finger, pen) on or near the surface of the display, thetransmit signal is altered 1206. Once the potentially altered transmitsignal is coupled to the second matrix conductor group 1207, itpropagates through the second matrix conductor group 321. Once thetransmit signal reaches the capacitive coupling point at the secondtouch controller, it couples to the touch controller conductor 1208. Ifthe resistance to ground in the active matrix driver for this conductorgroup is too low, the transmit signal may be significantly attenuated.At step 1209, the received transmit signals are evaluated to determineif a detectable signal is present. If no signal is detected, the devicekeeps monitoring for a detectable signal. While there is a detectabletransmit signal 1211, it is processed 1210 to determine if thecapacitance has changed sufficiently to indicate the presence of anexternal conductive element (e.g., finger, pen, etc.) near thecapacitance coupling area between the first and second matrix conductorgroups. Mutual capacitance information provides unique capacitancevalues for every capacitance coupling between the matrix conductorgroups. Note that there are a number of different methods, approaches,algorithms, etc. for creating unique row or column information with acapacitive touch sensor (e.g., scanning one or more rows at a time,unique signals on each row, etc.). Mutual capacitance information allowsthe identification of multiple simultaneous human touches or conductivepen locations.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart of a concurrent touchscreen displaydevice performing touch operation processing using a self-capacitivemode in accordance with various embodiments. In the self-capacitivemode, the touch controller uses the conductive pathway as abidirectional signal line. The touch controller transmitting thetransmit signal is the same touch controller that receives and monitorsthe transmit signal. An exemplary method 1300 includes the followingsteps. First, generating a transmit signal for transmission to theactive matrix 1301. The transmit signal is continuously generated 1302.The capacitance coupling combined with the resistance to ground in theactive matrix driver creates a high pass filter. If the transmit signalis DC, it will not be coupled onto the active matrix conductors. Thetransmit signal is coupled onto the matrix conductor group 1303, howeverit may be severely attenuated by the high pass filter if the resistanceto ground is too low. Once the signal is coupled to the matrixconductor, as shown in step 1304, it propagates through a matrixconductor group, such as the first matrix conductor group 331. If thenormal capacitance of the first matrix conductor group is altered by thepresence of an external conductive material (e.g., finger, pen, etc.)that is coupled to earth ground, on or near the surface of the display,the transmit signal is altered 1305. The potentially altered signalpropagates back through the first matrix conductor group 331. Once thetransmit signal reaches the capacitive coupling point back at the firsttouch controller, it couples to the touch controller conductor 1307. Ifthe resistance to ground in the active matrix driver for this conductorgroup is too low, the signal may be significantly attenuated. At step1308, the received signals are evaluated to determine if a detectablesignal is present. If no signal is detected, the device keeps monitoringfor a detectable signal. While there is a detectable signal 1310, it isprocessed 1309 to determine if the capacitance has changed sufficientlyto indicate the presence of an earth ground coupled external conductivematerial (e.g., finger, pen, etc.) at the capacitance coupling areabetween the first and second matrix conductor groups. This method isreplicated on all matrix conductor groups. Self capacitance informationis good for the detection of a single finger, single pen or to be usedto provide additional information to help in filtering out erroneoustouches (e.g., salt water on display, palm rejection, etc.).

For both the self-capacitive mode and the mutual-capacitive mode, atouch controller monitors the effect caused by change in capacitance,such as by monitoring changes in voltage, current, or phase delay. Manystandard techniques may be used to monitor the change in capacitance. Insome examples, the touch controller function utilized in the connectionarchitecture described uses transmit signals that are not filtered bythe capacitive coupling. It is desirable to make the capacitor formed atan intersection of the touch channel conductors and the group of activematrix traces as large as practical as the signal strength of thecoupled signal increases as the value of the capacitance increases.

Capacitive coupling is also basic to band pass filters. The capacitivecoupling of the touch controller function to the conductive pathways inan active matrix display could also be configured to provide band passfilter functions to reject frequencies and simplify the filteringfunctions within the touch controller. FIG. 14A illustrates thedefinition of a band pass filter. FIG. 14B illustrates the componentsadded to the touch controller to create the band pass filter. FIG. 14Cillustrates the touch controller, with band pass filter, coupled to agroup of active matrix conductors. Note that any of a number ofdifferent types of coping operations may be performed in accordance withprocessing signals in accordance with touchscreen display operations asdescribed herein. For example, bandpass filtering may be performed inaddition to or alternatively to low pass filtering, high pass filtering,etc.

FIG. 15 shows a three-dimensional (3D) view of a concurrent touchscreendisplay device 1500 implementing one method for capacitively couplingthe touch controller functions into the row and column display driverchips. The touchscreen display device 1500 comprises an active matrixdisplay 210 having a grid of multiple row conductors 1511 (first set ofconductors) and multiple column conductors 1512 (second set ofconductors), an active matrix column driver 1520 coupled to the multiplecolumn conductors 1512, and an active matrix row driver 1530 coupled tothe multiple row conductors 1511, all of which are disposed on an activematrix display substrate 1540. The active matrix column driver 1520 hasan integrated touch controller, and the active matrix row driver 1530also has an integrated touch controller. The integrated touch controllerof the active matrix column driver 1520 is capacitively coupled to themultiple active matrix column conductors 1512 via touch controller touchlines 1521. A first dielectric layer 1550 separates the touch controllercolumn touch lines 1521 from the active matrix column conductors 1512.Similarly, the integrated touch controller of the active matrix rowdriver 1530 is capacitively coupled to the multiple active matrix rowconductors 1511 via touch controller row touch lines 1531. A seconddielectric layer 1551 separates the active matrix row conductors 1511from the touch controller row touch lines 1531.

Moreover, the concurrent touchscreen display device 1500 described inFIG. 15 can also be fabricated using various stack configurations,examples of which are illustrated in FIGS. 16A-16D.

FIG. 16A shows an exemplary stack layer comprising a substrate 1610(e.g., in some examples, which may be a glass layer, a ruggedizedplastic material, and/or any other appropriate protective and/ordielectric material, etc.), row conductors 1620 disposed on thesubstrate 1610, touch lines 1630 disposed on the substrate, a firstdielectric layer 1640 disposed on the touch lines 1630 and the rowconductors 1620 in contact with the substrate 1610 and separating thetouch lines 1630 from the row conductors 1620. The stack furthercomprises column conductors 1650 disposed on the first dielectric layer1640, and a second dielectric layer 1660 disposed on the columnconductors 1650. This stack configuration makes use of existing metallayers by locating the touch lines 1630 in the same layer as the rowconductors 1620, where the touch lines 1630 are capacitively coupled tothe column conductors 1650. FIG. 16B is similar to the FIG. 16A, exceptthe perspective of the layer stackup is orthogonal to FIG. 16A. FIG. 16Bshows the touch lines 1670 are located in the same layer as the columnconductors 1650, and the signal lines are capacitively coupled to therow conductors 1620.

FIG. 16C shows an exemplary stack layer comprising a substrate 1610, rowconductors 1620 disposed on the substrate 1610, a first dielectric layer1640 disposed on the row conductors 1620, column conductors 1650disposed on the first dielectric layer 1640, a second dielectric layer1660 disposed on the column conductors 1650 and in contact with thefirst dielectric layer 1640, touch lines 1680 disposed on the seconddielectric layer 1660. In this exemplary embodiment, the touch lines1680 are located in a layer separate from, and above, the columnconductors 1650 and the row conductors 1620. The touch lines 1680 arelocated over the column conductors 1650 and offset from the rowconductors 1620, such that the touch lines 1680 are capacitively coupledto the column conductors 1650. FIG. 16D is similar to FIG. 16C, exceptthe perspective of the layer stackup is orthogonal to FIG. 16C. FIG. 16Dshows the touch lines 1690 are located in a layer separate from, andbelow, the row conductors 1620 and the column conductors 1650. As usedherein, “below” describes a layer closer to the substrate 1610 layer and“above” describes a layer farther from the substrate layer 1610.Furthermore, FIGS. 16A, 16N, 16C and 16D may also apply to embodimentswhere the row conductors and column conductors are fabricated in adifferent order, with other layers above, below or under the row andcolumn conductors. The touch lines can be either above or below both therow and column conductors with one or more other layers in between solong as the capacitance created by the overlap is sufficient.

FIG. 17 shows a 3D view of a concurrent touchscreen display device 1700in which one set of the touch functions are capacitively coupled to acolumn driver 1720 and a row touch controller 1731 is directly connectedto a segmented ground plane 1760. The touchscreen display device 1700 issimilar to the touchscreen display device 1500. The integrated touchcontroller of the active matrix column driver 1720 is capacitivelycoupled to the multiple column conductors 1712 via touch controllertouch lines 1721.

A first dielectric layer 1750 separates the touch controller touch lines1721 from the column conductors 1712. However, the touchscreen displaydevice 1700 comprises two or more segmented ground plane conductors 1760disposed below the row conductors 1711. Each segmented ground plane 1760is directly connected to a row touch conductor 1731. A touch occurringwithin the area of a segmented ground plane 1760 will create a change ofcapacitance detected by the corresponding row touch conductor 1731. Theprecision of locating a touch operation within the multiple rows of theactive matrix display depends on the number and dimensions of thesegmented ground planes 1760. Smaller ground planes 1760 result in moreprecision location determinations, whereas larger ground planes 1760cover more area and are less precise in comparison.

Moreover, in various embodiments, the row driver 1730 can be the driverbeing capacitively coupled to the row conductors 1711, and the columndriver 1720 can be the driver directly connected to various segmentedground planes via corresponding touch conductors. Note that theconductors portrayed in the diagram are separated by appropriatedielectric layers, even if not specifically shown. In general, anycombination of direct connectivity, capacitively coupling (CC), etc. maybe made, respectively, between one or more drivers and the appropriateone or more segments of the various segmented ground planes.

Note that the various aspects, embodiments, and/or examples of theinvention (and/or their equivalents) are not limited to the use of aspecific set of conductors within the active matrix display stack, butrather may be implemented to utilize any available set of conductorsthat provide effective channels of conductive traces with sufficientcapacitance at their intersections.

Additional disclosure is now provided for explanation and understandingof the design of an exemplary touch device, such as concurrenttouchscreen display devices 400, 500, 550, 1500, 1700.

While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure,it may be understood that the disclosed systems and methods might beembodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spiritor scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is notto be limited to the details given herein. For example, the variouselements or components may be combined or integrated in another systemor certain features may be omitted, or not implemented. The use of termssuch as rows or columns are intended to be logical and not necessarilyphysical in nature. The use of the term active matrix display or flatpanel display comprise a large number of display technologies andconfigurations, including LCD, OLED, EL, Plasma, Quantum Dot, etc. Anydisplay technology that has conductive pathways that change capacitancein the presence of an external conductive material (e.g., finger, pen,etc.) on the user or viewer facing surface of the display can be used.Any configuration of conductive pathways that can be formed into logicalrows and columns either by layout or by connecting conductive traces offscreen can be used, such as traditional two layer rows and columns ofconductors, single layer touch sensor layouts, in-cell and on-cell touchsensor configurations can be used.

Note that any of a variety of different respective touch controllermethodologies and operations may be used in accordance with the variousaspects, embodiments, and/or examples of the invention (and/or theirequivalents). The signaling techniques that may be employed herein canbe varied including Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Frequency DivisionMultiplexing (FDM), Code Division Multiplexing (CDM), etc., anycombination thereof, and/or other signaling approaches. In addition, avariety of modulation techniques may also be utilized, such as frequencymodulation and direct-sequence spread spectrum modulation. The range offrequencies which may be utilized is only limited by the filteringinherent in the circuitry, the size of the display (i.e. resistance andcapacitance) and any need there may be to minimize any interference withthe operation of the display

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 1800 of a liquidcrystal display (LCD) pixel layout in accordance with the presentinvention. From left to right, this LCD pixel layout includes a redsub-pixel, green sub-pixel, and a blue sub-pixel, thereby forming an RGBgroup (e.g., shown with respect to reference numerals 1820, 1822, and1824) that is operable to emit light of various colors depending on therespective combination of RGB. The use of rectangles to depict the shapeof the respective sub-pixels is for illustrative purposes only, actualshapes and arrangements of the sub-pixels may vary and be of any desiredshape. A common ground plane conductor 1810 is also implemented that isshared by each of the respective RGB sub-pixels. Note that differentconfigurations of RGB sub-pixels may alternatively be implemented (e.g.,such that the RGB are in different orders from left to right,alternatively not necessarily aligned first second and third, possiblyin a triangular configuration, etc.). In general, LCD pixel layoutincludes respective light sources and color filters operative to emitlight of various colors depending on the respective combination of RGB.

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 1900 of LCDpixels with a segmented ground plane in accordance with the presentinvention. Comparing this diagram to FIG. 20, connectivity of the commonground plane conductor 1910 associated with all of the pixels and/orsub-pixels (e.g., an instantiation of RGB sub-pixels is shown withrespect to reference numeral 1920) shown herein is maintained. In someexamples, this pattern is replicated multiple times such as inaccordance with a checkerboard type pattern. Different respectivereplicated segments of the segmented common ground plane within anactive matrix display may be alternatingly connected to form respectiveconductors that are associated with the touchscreen rows and thetouchscreen columns such as is shown within FIG. 24.

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2000 of LCD pixelswith a segmented ground plane in accordance with the present invention.In this diagram, two different common ground plane conductors 2010 and2015 are implemented among a number of LCD pixels, each havingrespective RGB sub-pixels (e.g., an instantiation of RGB sub-pixels isshown with respect to reference numeral 2020). For example, within theouter portion of the diagram and around the respective LCD pixelsthereof, a lighter shaded first common ground plane conductor 2010 isimplemented and the respective portions thereof are used to form atleast a portion of a first conductor of a touch sensor (e.g., at least aportion of a first row conductor of a touch sensor).

In addition, within the inner portion of the diagram and around therespective LCD pixels thereof, a darker shaded second common groundplane conductor 2015 is implemented and the respective portions thereofare used to form at least a portion of second conductor of a touchsensor (e.g., at least a portion of a first column conductor of a touchsensor). Note that the respective first common ground plane conductor inthe second common ground plane conductor encompass multiple respectivepixels each. In other embodiments of a segmented ground plane, theground plane may not be coplanar with or surrounding pixels orsub-pixels, but may be on a different layer of the display stack, suchthat each ground plane segment may be “contiguous” (e.g., unpatterned).

Within a touch sensor implemented to detect interaction from user (e.g.,contact from a human finger, or a stylus, or an electronic pen (e.g.,e-pen), etc.), a granularity needed to detect such interaction from theuser is typically much less than the spacing between respective pixelsand/or sub-pixels within display. As such, the common ground planeconductor portions associated with multiple respective pixels and/orsub-pixels within the display may be used to form the respectiveportions of conductors within the touch sensor. Note that differentrespective portions of the common ground plane conductor portions asshown in this diagram are connected appropriately with other similarportions to form different respective conductors within the touchsensor. In some examples, a first group of conductors are aligned in afirst direction (e.g., such as being rows of the touch sensor), and asecond group of conductors are aligned in a second direction (e.g., suchas being columns of the touch sensor). Note that the respectiveconductors may be implemented using different shapes, sizes, widths,etc. and maybe implemented in a variety of different patterns includingon Manhattan pattern, a diamond shaped pattern, and/or other shapes andformats.

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2100 ofsegmentation of a common ground plane within an active matrix inaccordance with the present invention. Considering this diagram relativeto the prior diagram in which there are two respective common groundplane conductor portions 2110 and 2115, one being composed of the commonground plane conductor portions within the outer portion of the pixelsand/or sub-pixels (e.g., such as with reference to FIG. 20), and anotherbeing composed of the common ground plane conductor portions innerportion 2115 within the inner portion of the pixels and/or sub-pixels(e.g., such as with reference to FIG. 20), the different respectiveportions may be appropriately connected to form different respectiveconductors of the touch sensor.

In this diagram, with respect to an overall common ground plane 2105within an active matrix display that is segmented, a certain number ofouter portions are connected together to form a conductor correspondingto a touchscreen row. As can be seen, this diagram shows multiplerespective conductors corresponding to multiple respective touchscreenrows 2121. Within the respective touchscreen rows, the common groundplane conductor portions inner portion 2115 within the inner portion ofthe pixels and/or sub-pixels (e.g., such as with reference to FIG. 20)are connected together to form a conductor corresponding to atouchscreen column.

For example, also with reference to FIG. 20, the common ground plane ofan active matrix display is patterned into different respectiveconductive areas. The common ground plane within the active matrixdisplay 2105 is segmented into different conductive areas. Appropriateconnectivity of the different respective segments of the common groundplane of the active matrix display segments is made to form respectiveconductors that are associated with the touchscreen rows 2121 and thetouchscreen columns 2123.

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2200 ofsegmentation of a common ground plane 2205 to form a touch sensor inaccordance with the present invention. In this diagram, a common groundplane of the display is segmented into blocks that are connected intorows and columns.

This diagram shows an implementation of FIG. 21, in that, inner andouter portions of common ground plane conductor sections are used suchas in accordance with the representation FIG. 20. For example, within aparticular cross-section, a first common ground plane conductor segmentis composed of the outer portion thereof, and a second common groundplane conductor segment is composed of the inner portion thereof.

However, in this diagram, where a dot is shown (e.g., reference numeral2203), there is a corresponding via connecting the corresponding metaltraces (e.g., reference numeral 2207 for a row and 2208 for a column) tothe common ground plane conductive areas. For example, on the left-handside of the diagram, three respective rows are connected thereby forminga singular touchscreen row (e.g., shown as TS Row 1 in the diagram). Inother words, along those three horizontal lines, where there is a dot,there is a corresponding via connecting the corresponding metal tracesto the common ground plane conductor areas. Similarly, there are threeother respective rows of segments that are connected thereby forminganother singular touchscreen row (e.g., shown as TS Row 2 in thediagram). Note that there are two respective touchscreen rows depictedin this diagram (e.g., a break/segmentation in ground plane between twoadjacent rows is noted on the right-hand side of the diagram, such aswith respect to reference numeral 2209)

Analogously, in the vertical direction, using the inner portions of thecommon ground plane conductor sections are appropriately connected toform different respective touchscreen columns. For example, on theleft-hand side of the diagram, three respective columns are connectedthereby forming a singular touchscreen column (e.g., shown as TS Column1 in the diagram). In other words, along those three horizontal lines,where there is a dot, there is a corresponding via connecting thecorresponding metal traces to the common ground plane conductor areas.Similarly, there are three other respective rows of segments that areconnected thereby forming other singular touchscreen columns (e.g.,shown as TS Column 2, TS Column 3, TS Column 4 in the diagram). Notethat there are four respective touchscreen rows depicted in thisdiagram.

Note that the metal traces are expected to be located at the gate anddata metal layers of the active matrix display with reference to thisdiagram. Again, with respect to this diagram and any other diagramherein, note that any desired format and shape of different respectivesegments of an active matrix common ground plane (e.g., of any desiredsize, shape, form, connectivity, etc.) may be made, and those respectivesegments of the active matrix common ground plane may be appropriatelyconnected to form the different respective conductors associated with atouch sensor that is implemented within the display device (e.g.,forming row and column conductors are one example).

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2300 of a 3Dlayout of a concurrent touchscreen display device (e.g., such as withreference to FIG. 22), with the touch controllers directly connected tosegmented plane segments using vias to metal lines in accordance withthe present invention.

This diagram shows the touch controller integrated into an active matrixrow and column driver and directly connected to various conductiveelements of the segmented ground plane. The touchscreen display deviceis implemented based on an active matrix display substrate 2340 andincludes a segmented ground plane conductor 2360.

An active matrix column driver including touch controller 2320 isimplemented to operate the active matrix display using active matrixcolumn conductors 2312. An active matrix row driver including touchcontroller 2330 is implemented to operate the active matrix displayusing active matrix row conductors 2311.

In this diagram, the segmented ground plane conductor 2360 is segmentedto form rows and columns such that the columns are formed by innerportions of different respective segments of the segmented ground planeconductor 2360 that are connected together, and rows are formed by outerportions of different respective segments of the segmented ground planeconductor 2360 that are connected together.

In this particular example, touchscreen (TS) Y dimension conductors 2392are formed by appropriately connecting different respective segments ofthe segmented ground plane conductor 2360. X dimension conductors 2391are formed by the remaining outer portion around each Y dimensionconductors 2392 of the segmented ground plane conductor 2360.

In this diagram, new/additional lines are provided in parallel to thegate and data lines and are connected, using vias, to the appropriatesegments of the segmented ground plane conductor 2360 (e.g., which maybe implemented using ITO or other appropriately selected material).

The touch controller implemented within the active matrix row driverincluding touch controller 2330 is directly connected to the appropriateportions of the segmented ground plane using vias connected to the Xdimension conductors 2331. Similarly, the touch controller implementedwithin the active matrix column driver including touch controller 2320is directly connected to the appropriate portions of the segmentedground plane using vias connected to the Y dimension conductors 2332.

Note that in a typical LCD type display, metal lines are used to provideconnectivity for the TFT (gate and data lines). FIG. 23 shows animplementation that does not use Active Matrix Row conductors 2311 orActive Matrix Column conductors 2312 for connectivity to the rows andcolumns of the touch sensor. In FIG. 23, new/additional lines, the Xdimension conductors 2331 and the Y dimension conductors 2332, areimplemented in parallel to the Active matrix Row conductors 2311 and theActive Matrix Column conductors 2312 that are connected to theappropriate segments of the segmented ground plane conductor 2360 usingvias.

The example of this diagram uses the segmented ground plane for both rowand column conductors within a given plane of the stackup that areappropriately connected using additional lines that are implemented inanother respective plane of the stackup and are connected to theappropriate segments of the segmented ground plane conductor 2360 usingvias connected to metal lines.

FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2400 ofsegmentation of a common ground plane within an active matrix inaccordance with the present invention. From certain perspectives, thisdiagram may be viewed with reference to FIG. 19. On the left-hand sideof the diagram is a 4×4 cross section 2410 showing 16 respectivereplicated segments of the segmented common ground plane within anactive matrix display. There are 16 alternating segments of thesegmented common ground plane within the active matrix display in the4×4 cross section on the left-hand side of the diagram. Half of the 16alternating segments are connected to form at least a portion of aconductor of the touch sensor, and the other half of the 16 alternatingsegments are connected to form at least a portion of another conductorof the touch sensor.

On the right-hand side of the diagram, the 4×4 cross section is shown asbeing repeated multiple times. Any desired number of segments associatedwith the base 4×4 cross section on the left-hand side of the diagram maybe used to implement different respective conductors of differentrespective widths, sizes, shapes, etc.

In general, know that different respective segments of the overallsegmentation of a common ground plane within an active matrix displaymay be made to form different respective portions/segments of anydesired shapes, sizes, etc., and those respective portions/segments maybe appropriately connected to form conductors to be used within a touchsensor having any desired shapes, sizes, widths, etc.

FIG. 25 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2500 of an in-cellcheckerboard sensor layout in accordance with the present invention.This diagram shows an in-cell checkerboard square sensor layout. In someexamples, the different respective segments of the common ground planewithin an active matrix display include approximate 1 mm×1 mm squares.Note that segments of any other size may alternatively be used. Notealso that some embodiments may include segments such that at least twodifferent segments are of different size and/or shape.

Alternating square segments of a conductive ground plane within anactive matrix display are connected to one another thereby formingdifferent respective conductors of the touch sensor. For example, thereader is referred to FIG. 26 showing dots to indicate where there isconnectivity to the respective conductive ground plane segment using acorresponding via connected to a metal line. In this diagram, viasconnected to metal lines may similarly be implemented with respect toeach of the different respective square segments of the common groundplane within the active matrix display to form the different respectiveconductors of the touch sensor (e.g., thereby forming differentrespective row conductors and column conductors).

For example, the cross sectional portion of the touch sensor depictedwithin this diagram shows 23 respective column conductors depicted byC1, C2 through C23 and 10 respective row conductors depicted by R1, R2through R10.

With respect to this diagram and any other diagram, embodiment, example,etc., herein and their equivalents, note that the different respectiveconductors of a touch sensor may be implemented in any of a variety ofways. While many examples use row conductors aligned in a firstdirection and column conductors aligned in a second direction (e.g.,such as with the second direction being perpendicular to the firstdirection), note that the different respective conductors may be alignedin any of a number of different ways. In general, any placement ofsensor conductors in appropriate directions across the touchscreendisplay may be made to implement the touch sensor portion of thetouchscreen display.

FIG. 26 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2600 of an in-cellcheckerboard sensor layout in accordance with the present invention.This diagram shows a cross-sectional portion of an in-cell checkerboardsensor layout, such as described and depicted with reference to FIG. 25,in more detail.

Alternating square segments of a conductive ground plane within anactive matrix display are connected to one another thereby formingdifferent respective conductors of the touch sensor. Dots associatedwith the different respective squares of the in-cell checkerboard sensorlayout are used to indicate where there is connectivity to therespective conductive ground plane segment using a corresponding via.

In this diagram, within a 4×4 cross-sectional portion of the in-cellcheckerboard sensor layout, 8 of the 16 respective square segments areconnected to one another in accordance with a first conductor of thetouch sensor, and the remaining 8 of the 16 square segments areconnected to one another in accordance with a second conductor of thetouch sensor. Considering an example implemented using 1 mm×1 mm ITOsquares within a checkerboard layout, then each respective row andcolumn of the touch sensor is approximately 4 mm wide. For example,considering the alternating implementation of the 4×4 cross-sectionalportion of the in-cell checkerboard sensor layout, 8 of the 16respective square segments are connected to one another in accordancewith a conductor of the touch sensor that is approximately 4 mm wide.This is one example of a pattern that could be used. The common groundplane can be divided into different numbers of many different geometricshapes and sizes to create effective touchscreen displays, includingdesigns or layout using an unequal number of segments in each dimension

In one particular example, the metal conductor lines connecting thedifferent respective segments of the conductive ground plane (e.g.,which may be composed of indium tin oxide (ITO) (alternatively referredto as tin-doped indium oxide), or some other appropriate material havingthe desired electrical and optical characteristics and possibly othercharacteristics making it suitable for the particular application, suchas being transparent within a touchscreen display, etc.). Also, the dotsdepict that vias connect metal lines to the different respectivesegments of the conductive ground plane.

This checkerboard implementation can improve the mutual capacitance ofthe touch sensor by a factor of two in some examples. For example,assuming an approximate 15 μm gap between the respective ITOsegments/pads that are appropriately connected to form the respectiveconductors of the touch sensor, then along an approximate 32 mm linearedge of the 8 corresponding, respective ITO segments/pads, each beingapproximately 1 mm×1 mm in size, then the mutual capacitance of thatlinear edge is approximately 6.8 pF. In comparison, assuming anapproximate 15 μm gap between the respective ITO segments/pads that areappropriately connected to form the respective conductors of the touchsensor, then along an approximate 16 mm linear edge of a 4 mm×4 mm ITOdiamond shaped segment/pad, then the mutual capacitance of that linearedge is approximately 3.18 pF. As can be seen, implementing an in-cellcheckerboard square sensor layout implementation can provide for animproved mutual capacitance compared to an in-cell diamond sensor layoutimplementation.

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2700 of an in-celldiamond sensor layout in accordance with the present invention. Thisdiagram shows an in-cell diamond sensor layout. Alternating diamondsegments of a conductive ground plane within an active matrix displayare connected to one another thereby forming different respectiveconductors of the touch sensor. For example, where there is a dot, thereis connectivity to the respective conductive ground plane segment usinga corresponding via to a metal line. For example, the cross sectionalportion of the touch sensor depicted within this diagram shows 15respective column conductors depicted by C1, C2 through C15 and sixrespective row conductors depicted by R1, R2 through R6.

In one particular example, the metal conductor lines connecting thedifferent respective segments of the conductive ground plane (e.g.,which may be composed of indium tin oxide (ITO) (alternatively referredto as tin-doped indium oxide), or some other appropriate material havingthe desired electrical and optical characteristics and possibly othercharacteristics making it suitable for the particular application, suchas being transparent within a touchscreen display, etc.). Also, the dotsdepict vias that connect the different respective segments of theconductive ground plane to a metal line. Note that the terms “conductiveground plane” and “metal lines” correspond to elements on differentlayers of the active matrix stack-up that not electrically connected,unless specified otherwise.

Note that different respective materials used to form the differentrespective segments of the touch sensor, and as such, differentrespective values of resistance, capacitance, etc. as a function ofsize, implementation, etc. of the touchscreen display may be realized.

It is noted that terminologies as may be used herein such as bit stream,stream, signal sequence, etc. (or their equivalents) have been usedinterchangeably to describe digital information whose contentcorresponds to any of a number of desired types (e.g., data, video,speech, text, graphics, audio, etc. any of which may generally bereferred to as ‘data’).

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provide an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding term and/orrelativity between items. For some industries, an industry-acceptedtolerance is less than one percent and, for other industries, theindustry-accepted tolerance is 10 percent or more. Other examples ofindustry-accepted tolerance range from less than one percent to fiftypercent. Industry-accepted tolerances correspond to, but are not limitedto, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperaturevariations, rise and fall times, thermal noise, dimensions, signalingerrors, dropped packets, temperatures, pressures, material compositions,and/or performance metrics. Within an industry, tolerance variances ofaccepted tolerances may be more or less than a percentage level (e.g.,dimension tolerance of less than +/−1%). Some relativity between itemsmay range from a difference of less than a percentage level to a fewpercent. Other relativity between items may range from a difference of afew percent to magnitude of differences.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “configured to”, “operablycoupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includes direct couplingbetween items and/or indirect coupling between items via an interveningitem (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, anelement, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for an example of indirectcoupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of asignal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or powerlevel. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where oneelement is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct andindirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”.

As may even further be used herein, the term “configured to”, “operableto”, “coupled to”, or “operably coupled to” indicates that an itemincludes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s), etc., toperform, when activated, one or more its corresponding functions and mayfurther include inferred coupling to one or more other items. As maystill further be used herein, the term “associated with”, includesdirect and/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item beingembedded within another item.

As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that acomparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desiredrelationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may beachieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1. As maybe used herein, the term “compares unfavorably”, indicates that acomparison between two or more items, signals, etc., fails to providethe desired relationship.

As may be used herein, one or more claims may include, in a specificform of this generic form, the phrase “at least one of a, b, and c” orof this generic form “at least one of a, b, or c”, with more or lesselements than “a”, “b”, and “c”. In either phrasing, the phrases are tobe interpreted identically. In particular, “at least one of a, b, and c”is equivalent to “at least one of a, b, or c” and shall mean a, b,and/or c. As an example, it means: “a” only, “b” only, “c” only, “a” and“b”, “a” and “c”, “b” and “c”, and/or “a”, “b”, and “c”.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “processingcircuit”, “processor”, “processing circuitry”, and/or “processing unit”may be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices.Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller,digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of thecircuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module,module, processing circuit, processing circuitry, and/or processing unitmay be, or further include, memory and/or an integrated memory element,which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices,and/or embedded circuitry of another processing module, module,processing circuit, processing circuitry, and/or processing unit. Such amemory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flashmemory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information.Note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,processing circuitry, and/or processing unit includes more than oneprocessing device, the processing devices may be centrally located(e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless busstructure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing viaindirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network).Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,processing circuitry and/or processing unit implements one or more ofits functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry,and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing thecorresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, orexternal to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further notethat, the memory element may store, and the processing module, module,processing circuit, processing circuitry and/or processing unitexecutes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to atleast some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in one or more ofthe Figures. Such a memory device or memory element can be included inan article of manufacture.

One or more embodiments have been described above with the aid of methodsteps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claims. Further, the boundariesof these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined forconvenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined aslong as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed.Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily definedherein to illustrate certain significant functionality.

To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence couldhave been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significantfunctionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional buildingblocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scopeand spirit of the claims. One of average skill in the art will alsorecognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrativeblocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustratedor by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits,processors executing appropriate software and the like or anycombination thereof.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with one or more other routines. In addition, a flow diagrammay include an “end” and/or “continue” indication. The “end” and/or“continue” indications reflect that the steps presented can end asdescribed and shown or optionally be incorporated in or otherwise usedin conjunction with one or more other routines. In this context, “start”indicates the beginning of the first step presented and may be precededby other activities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue”indication reflects that the steps presented may be performed multipletimes and/or may be succeeded by other activities not specificallyshown. Further, while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering ofsteps, other orderings are likewise possible provided that theprinciples of causality are maintained.

The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or moreaspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or moreexamples. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article ofmanufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include one or more ofthe aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with referenceto one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figureto figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly namedfunctions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or differentreference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. maybe the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or differentones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/orbetween elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein maybe analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-endedor differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as asingle-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path.Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it alsorepresents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particulararchitectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise beimplemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, directconnectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between otherelements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of theembodiments. A module implements one or more functions via a device suchas a processor or other processing device or other hardware that mayinclude or operate in association with a memory that stores operationalinstructions. A module may operate independently and/or in conjunctionwith software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may containone or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules.

As may further be used herein, a computer readable memory includes oneor more memory elements. A memory element may be a separate memorydevice, multiple memory devices, or a set of memory locations within amemory device. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, randomaccess memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory,dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device thatstores digital information. The memory device may be in a form asolid-state memory, a hard drive memory, cloud memory, thumb drive,server memory, computing device memory, and/or other physical medium forstoring digital information.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of theone or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, othercombinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. Thepresent disclosure is not limited by the particular examples disclosedherein and expressly incorporates these other combinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touchscreen display comprising: one or moredisplay drivers coupled to an active matrix display via a plurality ofactive matrix conductive components, wherein, when enabled, a displaydriver of the one or more display drivers is configured to transmit afirst signal to an active matrix conductive component of the pluralityof active matrix conductive components in accordance with displayoperation; and one or more touch controllers coupled to one or moretouch sensor conductors, wherein, when enabled, a touch controller ofthe one or more touch controllers is configured to transmit a secondsignal to the active matrix conductive component of the plurality ofactive matrix conductive components in accordance with touchscreenoperation that is performed concurrently with the display operation suchthat the active matrix conductive component of the plurality of activematrix conductive components is also a touch sensor conductor of the oneor more touch sensor conductors.
 2. The touchscreen display of claim 1,wherein: the touchscreen operation that is performed concurrently withthe display operation within an area of the active matrix display thatincludes the active matrix conductive component of the plurality ofactive matrix conductive components; and the active matrix conductivecomponent of the plurality of active matrix conductive components isoperative simultaneously in accordance with the display operation basedon the first signal and also in accordance with the touchscreenoperation based on the second signal.
 3. The touchscreen display ofclaim 1, wherein: the plurality of active matrix conductive componentsincludes a common ground plane that is segmented into a plurality ofsegments; a first touch sensor conductor of the one or more touch sensorconductors includes a first subset of the plurality of segments and isaligned in a first direction; and a second touch sensor conductor of theone or more touch sensor conductors includes a second subset of theplurality of segments that is different than the first subset of theplurality of segments.
 4. The touchscreen display of claim 1, wherein:the plurality of active matrix conductive components includes a commonground plane that is segmented into a plurality of segments; a firsttouch sensor conductor of the one or more touch sensor conductorsincludes a first subset of the plurality of segments and is aligned in afirst direction; a second touch sensor conductor of the one or moretouch sensor conductors includes a second subset of the plurality ofsegments that is different than the first subset of the plurality ofsegments and is aligned in a second direction that is different than thefirst direction; and when enabled, the one or more touch controllers isfurther configured to: transmit a first touch sensor signal via thefirst touch sensor conductor; transmit a second touch sensor signal viathe second touch sensor conductor; and process at least one of the firsttouch sensor signal or the second touch sensor signal to detect a changeof capacitance of at least one of the first touch sensor conductor orthe second touch sensor conductor that is caused by interaction of anexternal conductor with the touchscreen display.
 5. The touchscreendisplay of claim 4, wherein the external conductor includes a finger ofa user, a pen, or a stylus.
 6. The touchscreen display of claim 4,wherein at least one of the first touch sensor conductor or the secondtouch sensor conductor includes a channel width in a range of 3-10millimeters.
 7. The touchscreen display of claim 1, wherein the secondsignal includes at least one of a sine wave signal, a compound sine wavesignal, an alternating current (AC) signal, or a pulsed square wavesignal.
 8. The touchscreen display of claim 1, wherein the touchcontroller of the one or more touch controllers is capacitively coupledto the touch sensor conductor of the one or more touch sensor conductorsvia a touch controller line.
 9. The touchscreen display of claim 1further comprising: integrated circuitry that includes at least one ofthe one or more display drivers and at least one of the one or moretouch controllers.
 10. A touchscreen display comprising: a displaydriver coupled to an electrode that simultaneously serves as an activematrix conductive component of an active matrix display and a touchsensor conductor, wherein, when enabled, the display driver isconfigured to transmit a first signal to the electrode in accordancewith display operation; and a touch controller also coupled to theelectrode, wherein, when enabled, a touch controller of the touchcontroller is configured to transmit a second signal to the electrode inaccordance with touchscreen operation.
 11. The touchscreen display ofclaim 10, wherein the touchscreen operation is performed concurrentlywith the display operation such that the electrode simultaneously servesas the active matrix conductive component of a plurality of activematrix conductive components of the active matrix and also as the touchsensor conductor of one or more touch sensor conductors of thetouchscreen display.
 12. The touchscreen display of claim 11, wherein:the plurality of active matrix conductive components includes a commonground plane that is segmented into a plurality of segments; a firsttouch sensor conductor of the one or more touch sensor conductorsincludes a first subset of the plurality of segments and is aligned in afirst direction; a second touch sensor conductor of the one or moretouch sensor conductors includes a second subset of the plurality ofsegments that is different than the first subset of the plurality ofsegments and is aligned in a second direction that is different than thefirst direction; and when enabled, the one or more touch controllers isfurther configured to: transmit a first touch sensor signal via thefirst touch sensor conductor; transmit a second touch sensor signal viathe second touch sensor conductor; and process at least one of the firsttouch sensor signal or the second touch sensor signal to detect a changeof capacitance of at least one of the first touch sensor conductor orthe second touch sensor conductor that is caused by interaction of anexternal conductor with the touchscreen display.
 13. The touchscreendisplay of claim 12, wherein the external conductor includes a finger ofa user, a pen, or a stylus.
 14. A method for execution by a touchscreendisplay, the method comprising: operating a display driver of one ormore display drivers coupled to an active matrix display via a pluralityof active matrix conductive components to transmit a first signal to anactive matrix conductive component of the plurality of active matrixconductive components in accordance with display operation; andoperating a touch controller of a one or more touch controllers coupledto one or more touch sensor conductors to transmit a second signal tothe active matrix conductive component of the plurality of active matrixconductive components in accordance with touchscreen operation that isperformed concurrently with the display operation such that the activematrix conductive component of the plurality of active matrix conductivecomponents is also a touch sensor conductor of the one or more touchsensor conductors.
 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:performing the touchscreen operation concurrently with the displayoperation within an area of the active matrix display that includes theactive matrix conductive component of the plurality of active matrixconductive components, wherein the active matrix conductive component ofthe plurality of active matrix conductive components is operativesimultaneously in accordance with the display operation based on thefirst signal and also in accordance with the touchscreen operation basedon the second signal.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein: the pluralityof active matrix conductive components includes a common ground planethat is segmented into a plurality of segments; a first touch sensorconductor of the one or more touch sensor conductors includes a firstsubset of the plurality of segments and is aligned in a first direction;and a second touch sensor conductor of the one or more touch sensorconductors includes a second subset of the plurality of segments that isdifferent than the first subset of the plurality of segments.
 17. Themethod of claim 14, wherein: the plurality of active matrix conductivecomponents includes a common ground plane that is segmented into aplurality of segments; a first touch sensor conductor of the one or moretouch sensor conductors includes a first subset of the plurality ofsegments and is aligned in a first direction; a second touch sensorconductor of the one or more touch sensor conductors includes a secondsubset of the plurality of segments that is different than the firstsubset of the plurality of segments and is aligned in a second directionthat is different than the first direction; and when enabled, the one ormore touch controllers is further configured to: transmit a first touchsensor signal via the first touch sensor conductor; transmit a secondtouch sensor signal via the second touch sensor conductor; and processat least one of the first touch sensor signal or the second touch sensorsignal to detect a change of capacitance of at least one of the firsttouch sensor conductor or the second touch sensor conductor that iscaused by interaction of an external conductor with the touchscreendisplay.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the external conductorincludes a finger of a user, a pen, or a stylus.
 19. The method of claim17, wherein at least one of the first touch sensor conductor or thesecond touch sensor conductor includes a channel width in a range of3-10 millimeters.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the second signalincludes at least one of a sine wave signal, a compound sine wavesignal, an alternating current (AC) signal, or a pulsed square wavesignal.